Brett Smock – Producing Artistic Director

There is an unwritten, implicit understanding about theatre folk – that we are all gypsies. We travel often, go where the gig is and spend a lot of time living out of suitcases. My early life prepared me well for the gypsy life that has become my norm. I was born in Kailua, Hawaii — my mother was an English teacher and my father was a diplomat employed by the State Department. At the age of three, my father was posted overseas and so we left Hawaii and headed for Paris where we spent two years. We spent the next fifteen years jumping from Saudi Arabia to Berlin to Libya to Pakistan to Israel and on to Singapore, where I graduated high school. While I left to attend the American University in Washington DC, my family continued on to Brussels, Belgium. Two weeks after I graduated AU with a degree in Theatre, I drove north to Auburn, NY where I performed as a dancer in three shows in the ‘92 season: Mame, Cabaret and 42nd Street. Broadway in the Finger Lakes quickly became my home away from home and I continued to return to Auburn for the next 24 years as a performer, choreographer, director, director/choreographer, general manager and upon Ed Sayles’ retirement — Producing Artistic Director. I love this theatre and am excited for its future. I also love this community.

While not in Auburn, this gypsy worked many different gigs – performing on national and international tours, in Broadway workshops, directing and choreographing countless regional productions, staging celebrity industrials, writing the books to two new musicals, holding numerous adjunct faculty and guest artist positions, developing many new musicals and most importantly – working with some of the best talent in the industry. I have worked on land, at sea and continue to spend the better part of my life in an airplane. I am a gypsy – I live wherever I land. Right now, I live in Auburn and New York City and, between the two, I have a full, rich, meaningful life chock full of great theatre and incredible people. Thanks for being a part of it – here’s to a stellar 2016!

Lisa Chase – Artistic Director of Youth Theatre

If someone would have told me when I was younger that I was destined to move to a beautiful part of the country and live in a wonderfully supportive community, that in this community I would meet my future husband and get married, all while doing work that I was passionate about and that fulfilled me on every level I would have said that sounded too good to be true. Luckily for me, it isn’t. I have received all this and more from living in Auburn and working for the Merry-Go-Round Youth Theatre.

It is hard to believe, but the 2015-16 school year marks my tenth season with the Merry-Go-Round Youth Theatre. I was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN and graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. After auditioning at the Unified Professional Theatre Auditions in Memphis, TN I was hired as an actor with the Youth Theatre. I remember being thrilled to find a company that combined two of my passions- theatre and teaching. After three years of touring, I assumed the position of Youth Tour Manager. In that position I oversaw many of the daily logistics of tour, ensuring the actors were in their vans with everything they needed for their performances that day. From there, under the mentorship of Ed Sayles, I began directing, casting and selecting shows for the Youth Theatre, and in 2010 became Associate Producer. Now as Artistic Director, I feel a great sense of responsibility knowing that we are helping to shape future theatre artists and arts-appreciators. This responsibility ultimately governs all of my actions on a daily basis; however no two days are ever alike for me. Some days are filled production meetings, discussing the design elements of future touring shows. Other days I am out on the road, observing our work in action or meeting with potential school districts. Some days I am presenting at career days and then, some days, I am stuck responding to an inbox full of e-mails. No matter what I am doing, my principal goal is to ensure the students we visit are changed for the better because of their experience with Merry-Go-Round Youth Theatre.

Lynnette Lee – Managing Director

I was born and raised in Auburn and only lived away for a few years while my husband was in the Navy. We returned to Auburn when my son was born and I’ve been here ever since. I remember the ACT Wagon coming to my local playground when I was very young but the Youth Theatre wasn’t performing in the schools at that time so I wasn’t aware of that division of the company until I came to work here in 2005. I had no idea how far reaching and professional it is. I was a subscriber so I was already familiar with the Playhouse shows.

Prior to working here, I worked as the Business Manager at an assisted living facility in Auburn for 28 years. I began my employment here as the Staff Accountant, then in 2007 I became the Business Manager and in 2014 I was promoted to the Director of Finance & Administration. I find this job to be fast paced and never boring. I absolutely love working here because of all the challenges we have overcome and the accomplishments we have achieved in the last few years. The people I’ve met and had the pleasure to work with here are all extremely dedicated to producing top quality theatre and I’m proud to be a part of it.

Michael Iannelli – Production Manager

Rachel Carleton – Marketing Assistant

I’m a Rochester native, Cornell graduate, and lover of design and theatre. I work on all of the print marketing materials, so things like ads, show posters, and playbill inserts will be coming from my office. When I’m not assiduously proofing current projects (or ones already completed, if I’m feeling particularly paranoid that I’ve missed something) you can probably find me in the office kitchen making a snack. Outside of work I make a lot of trips around the state – and beyond – to visit family and friends. I love to travel, but even more than that I love to spend time with people I love. I’ve been blessed to find “home” in many places in my life and I visit my many homes as much as possible.

It wasn’t a straight path from high school theatre junkie to working at a musical theatre company for me- I originally looked at Cornell because they have a great hospitality school and I was going to be a chef and open up my own restaurant. Then I worked in a restaurant…. The dream died quickly. I ended up applying anyway because I loved the school and had decided to study environmental sciences. I’m a passionate recycler (as many a harangued roommate will tell you) and my sister is a plant biologist, so I had an interest in it, but it wasn’t until I took a Media Communications class with a brilliant professor that I realized what I really wanted to do. That summer I took an internship with a marketing firm in Denver and knew I’d found something I could make a career of. Being able to do so at a musical theatre company is such a wonderful bonus because of the openness and camaraderie that inherently come with a group of theatre people. I immediately felt welcome here and I am so excited for the 2016 Season! I did get my degree in Communications and Natural Resources though, so non-recyclers in the office beware!

Kirsten Vine – Marketing Assistant

I was born and raised about 1.5 hours south of here in Corning, N.Y. (we have glass). I then went on to attend SUNY Fredonia for TV & Digital Film Production. While there, I was a member of the Applied Communication Association, History Club, Disney Association, Film Society, Leadership Corps, and my personal favorite, the Fredonia Quidditch Team (yes, based on the fictional sport from Harry Potter). I later decided to add a second major in Public Relations and a minor in Film Studies because apparently I liked to have no free time.

After graduating in May 2014, I went home to Corning to apply for jobs and to work at The Corning Museum of Glass Café. In November I saw a marketing job posting for the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival and applied immediately. I did not know much about the company at the time, but I was very excited about the possibility of combining my video production and public relations majors with my interest in theatre. I was also very excited about the possibility of no longer having to charge tourists $2.11 for a bottle of water.

My role as Marketing Assistant ended up being exactly what I hoped it would be. Every day I get to use my skills in video production to create exciting and interesting pieces that really showcase the amazing work we do on stage. I also get to use my public relations knowledge to interact with our patrons daily via social media. I don’t really consider Tweeting, Instagramming, blogging, or Facebooking ‘chores’ or ‘work’—they’re something I genuinely enjoy doing! I’m just glad my social media addiction can help the company in some way. I also am in charge of sending our e-blasts, maintaining our website, answering donation requests, writing press releases, distributing flyers/brochures/posters, managing interns, photographing events, and any other random task that falls in marketing’s lap! The great thing about my job is that it is never boring and no day is the same as the last.

I consider myself a part-time Western New Yorker and spend most weekends in Buffalo visiting my boyfriend, Florian. I also enjoy reading, watching/studying films, running, learning trivia/pop culture, and tweeting. I also enjoy volunteering at Westminster Manor at their weekly Bingo night! I guess the thing to take away from all of this is that the next time you get an e-blast, see a Facebook post, or watch a YouTube video, you can probably assume I had something to do with it!

Pattie Murphy – Director of Marketing & Development

I am one of Auburn’s daughters! I was born in Detroit, Michigan, but my parents, Hugh and Colette Murphy, moved here with their five children when I was in first grade. My parents were early supporters of the Merry-Go-Round, and they brought all five of us to see the shows back in the 70’s and 80’s. Thus began my love of the Playhouse and musical theater. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Bryant University, I moved to Boston to pursue my career. I worked as a Generalist in Human Resources for over 20 years for restaurant, retail, and high tech companies. For those in the HR field, I am SPHR and SHRM-SCP certified. Besides living in Boston, I lived in Atlanta, Long Island, and Kansas City. Every 4th of July, no matter where I lived, I returned “home” to spend a week with my family, enjoying the lake, playing golf when my brothers would let me, and seeing a show at the Playhouse.

Many people tell me that I should write the story of my life, as I’ve had my fair share of struggles and challenges, which included a successful battle against cancer. There are a few good things about getting cancer. It teaches you how strong you can be. It gives you incredible clarity, focus, and perspective, and the kick in the pants you need to change things in your life. It shows you the importance of every decision you make, and that life really is short and time is the most expensive thing you can spend. After beating cancer, I decided to start my life over and chose to move here. I love Auburn – its “home” and the lake has always called to me. Someone once asked me to move back but I couldn’t; it was too complicated. But I always wanted to come back, and last year I found the courage, made some sacrifices, took a leap of faith and moved here. After living in so many different places, I know better than most what a special place this is and how lucky we are to live here.

I am a devoted mother to my three daughters, Ashley, Meghan, and Mikaela. Ashley is a sophomore at Arizona State University where she is pursuing a degree in public relations. Meghan and Mikaela are in Boston with my ex-husband, and I travel often to spend weekends with them to cook, clean and do their laundry. The girls are here in the summer and they love going to see the shows. When I’m not working, I am usually outside. I walk almost every day, at Emerson Park. A gymnast at heart, I have a habit of doing leaps on the guardrails and cartwheels on the beach. I live at Martin’s Point on Owasco Lake, so during the summer you’ll find me kayaking, sailing, or still trying to figure out how to drive my boat in and out of the hoist without crashing. During the winter, you’ll find me skiing at Song Mountain – I love the snow! I have been a martial artist for over ten years and am a fourth degree black belt in Kenpo Karate and Jujitsu. Since moving back, I returned to horseback riding, and hope to soon call a beautiful black mare named Charlie, “mine.”

I am proud to be part of the MGR team. There are only 20 of us that make this arts organization run, and every one of us gives heart and soul to do the best that we can in our roles. Being such a lean company, many of us wear multiple hats and I’m no exception. I’m responsible for Development and Marketing for all facets of our company. Since we keep ticket prices so low, and the quality of our productions at the highest level, ticket revenue generates only enough to cover 68% of production expenses. It’s up to me to find the remaining 32% to cover expenses through patron donations, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships. So I ask for donations from everyone; everywhere, because I love the theater, and want the legacy to continue for my children and my children’s children. I am not alone – so many of you give to the theater and we are thankful for your support! I plan all of the donor events (including the Donor Reception and Festival Gala), donor campaigns, manage corporate sponsorships and receptions, develop new relationships with business partners and oversee our foundation grant writing program.

The other half of my job is managing our Marketing Department. Overseeing our marketing programs is a huge job and one that I couldn’t do without our partners such as Coburn Design, Jacobs Press, and Pinckney Hugo. We reach out to the community through print (newspaper and magazine advertising, postcards, billboards, brochures, flyers, mailers), radio, television, and through our e-blasts, website, online partners, and social media. I am blessed to have what I consider a dream team. I have an incredibly talented group of young ladies that work with me: Leia, Rachel, and Kirsten. They are smart, funny, hard-working and dedicated to our company. We are so lucky to have them!

Alana Graber – Assistant to the Producer

I’ve always known that I wanted to work in theatre. It’s taken a lot of exploring and reflection to figure out in what capacity, but I’ve recently found a home at FLMTF. As a Hamilton, NY native, I grew up coming to see shows at the Merry-Go-Round. Now, as the executive assistant to Brett, I’m part of the organization behind the creativity – behind the beautiful productions that our audiences get to experience.

While the ultimate goal has always been theatre, I’ve taken a few detours to spend some time in Europe. My first venture was a high school year abroad in Normandy. In college, I studied for a semester in Lausanne, Switzerland and after graduating from the University at Buffalo in 2014, I moved to Marseille for a year and taught English to middle and high school students. In order to incorporate my favorite thing into my teaching, my curriculum included performing songs from the musical theatre cannon for English Language Day at school.

I jumped back into theatre immediately after my last return from France. Three days after landing in the United States, I drove across the country for my first professional theatre gig in Sacramento. After all this traveling, to have landed back home (well, practically) is amazing. The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival is a supportive, gracious, talented, hard-working family and I feel lucky to be a part of it.

Melissa Carbonaro – Assistant Business Manager

My name is Melissa Carbonaro; I am the Assistant Business Manager for the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival. A position I have held for the last five years. I am from Auburn along with the rest of my family. I have been married for twenty-four years to my husband Tom and together we have two children. Their names are Rachel and Michael. I have worked in the business world for twenty-two years and have a degree in Accounting.

I enjoy working in the business office; it brings new challenges every day. My job requires me to be a good multi-tasker and every day brings new projects to be completed. The individuals that I work with at the theater bring amazing energy and passion to the festival. The best part about my job is meeting the new actors, designers, musicians, and technical people that come in throughout the year from all over the country. I love being a part of this amazing organization and assisting in the growth of the company. Thank you so much for your support and I am proud to be associated with Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival.

Erin Katzker – Educational Theatre Manager

I have been with the Merry-Go-Round Youth Theatre for three years: one as an actor and two as the School Communications and Outreach Coordinator. I grew up in Olympia, WA and received a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University. After I graduated, I never expected my path to lead me back to Central New York, but three years ago, my husband Josh and I picked up and moved to Auburn to become part of this incredible company.

My primary responsibilities are acting as liaison to the schools participating in the Sequential Dramatics Program and managing the touring schedule. To schedule a school year, I start almost a year in advance. In October, I begin creating the schedule for the following school year in order to advise the Artistic Director of what our hiring needs will be before audition season begins in February. We typically hire 15 actors for a season that get broken down into three to four person tours and tracked into our schedule of nine productions and two different workshop tours. The whole process is like putting together an intricate puzzle where all of the pieces kind of look alike. There are times when you think you have it finished, but if you take it apart and put it back together in a different way, you find an even better picture. In May, I begin scheduling over 1000 school visits with around 200 buildings. This process is an entirely different puzzle and takes the entire summer to solidify. When scheduling visits with a school, I must take into account their bell schedule, lunch schedule, when each grade level has special area classes, and what other school could be paired with this school for the day, as each tour visits two schools each day. It is now a puzzle of logistics.

Another huge part of my job is administering the Echoes Creative Writing Competition and Showcase, our program for students in grades 6-8. Each fall, our actors visit the participating schools and lead a creative writing workshop with the students. By the end of December, we receive anywhere from 3000-4000 pieces of creative writing from students. In January, the four actors that will be in the performance read each piece and narrow them down to 60-75 pieces that will be featured in the show. When it all comes together, it turns out a little like SNL for middle school students, with lots of skits, songs, and sketches coming together into a variety show. Every student that submits a piece receives a personalized certificate. In addition to the Showcased Author awards, we also recognize students for Excellence in Writing and Honorable Mention. My office organizes and catalogues all submissions, manages awards, and prints all certificates.

During the summer, I coordinate one production that tours to libraries, churches, parks, community centers, and festivals across the state. We choose a production that fits with the theme of the Collaborative Summer Library Program: a nationwide program helping libraries work together and share resources. This summer, the theme centers around sports and fitness with the tagline, “On your Mark, Get Set… READ!” We will be touring a brand new adaptation of Aesop’s classic fable, The Tortoise and the Hare.

Throughout the year, I create study guides to aid teachers in connecting our visits to the New York State Learning Standards and Common Core Shifts. I also manage the incoming evaluation forms from teachers and hundreds of letters we receive from students. Whenever our actors visit a school, they promise the students that if they write a letter to us, they will receive a letter back from one of the actors. I am also responsible for requesting licensing for our upcoming productions and seeking out and meeting with prospective districts about our programming.

The Sequential Dramatics Program illuminates concepts and themes from the current curriculum through workshops and performances. In addition to that, viewing live theatre is proven to enhance two essential life skills: tolerance and empathy. I believe that the arts are a crucial part of every student’s education. I truly love coming to work every day and am immensely proud to be part of a company that provides invaluable programming to hundreds of schools across New York State every year.

Josh Katzker – PiTCH Coordinator/Artistic Associate

My tenure with the FLMTF began in the fall of 2005, when I came to Auburn to perform with the Youth Theatre. I was an actor and road manager for three seasons before moving west to earn my MFA in Theatre Performance from Arizona State University. After two years in Chicago working outside of the industry, I returned to Auburn with my wife in the fall of 2013 and would spend the next two seasons touring before becoming a full-time member of the staff in the summer of 2015. My time is now split between the Youth Theatre, teaching and developing curriculum for our Musical Theatre Training program, and coordinating the Festival’s new works series, The PiTCH.

With the Youth Theatre, I direct approximately half of our touring productions each season and I am the first point of contact for our actors and road managers should they encounter any issues or obstacles on the road or in a school. Additionally, I assist with casting, script management, training, and other administrative duties. For our Musical Theatre Training program I work with Artistic Director Lisa Myers and other teaching artists to ensure that our curriculum is preparing our students to be the next generation of theatre professionals, appreciators and teachers.

As the PiTCH Coordinator, my job begins in the fall as I work with our marketing department to ensure that newspapers, industry publications and websites spread the word that we are looking for submissions for the upcoming season. We typically receive 50-75 new scripts and scores each year. Once the submissions have been received, I sort and present them to the staff and, with their feedback, select which new musicals will be presented at Theater Mack as part of our season. I then work with the seven selected creative teams to determine when each show will be presented and arrange transportation for each team member. Once summer arrives, I gain an assistant who helps me transform Theater Mack from a concert venue into a beautiful cabaret-style theatre. My assistant also helps ensure the creative teams for each PiTCH show have everything they need, from providing production support & feedback to maintaining housing and transportation.

As someone who has the opportunity to work on both sides of the Festival, I find my job to be incredibly fulfilling and I count myself very lucky to work not only with such a wonderful staff, but also my incredibly talented and amazing wife, Erin. Between going to work with my wife every day, being a vital part of bringing theatre and arts education to the children of Central New York, and providing an opportunity for the next generation of musical theatre writers to develop their work, I can truly say that I am living the dream.

Geoff Howard – Youth Theatre Technical Director

Since childhood I have loved tinkering with mechanisms. I was that kid that tore apart anything just to see how it works or if it could become something new. Completely mesmerized by tricks and gadgets, I always wanted to know, “How in the world does that work?” As Youth Tour Technical Director, I get to indulge in the most rewarding type of problem solving — building the back of magic. Typically, scenic construction needs to last through the run of a single show, staying in one venue. I get to take designs and build something that will last for years, is lightweight, fits in the back of a van, is easily assembled by actors on a daily basis, and is true to the desired aesthetic. Every build is a challenge of bringing these needs together into a working artistic expression.

I have an MFA in Directing/Acting but have explored other facets of theatre, including set and light design and playwriting. My one major publication is “The Bob and Al Show” available at playscripts.com. It’s a meta-play observing characters arguing with their playwright as they are being written. I have also performed in a handful of Merry-Go-Round productions. It’s been a pleasure working at the Festival for the past 7 years, and I look forward to more!

Maria Barredo – Director of Audience Services

I’m a local girl who grew up in Homer, NY. I went to Elmira College in Elmira, NY for my undergraduate studies where I was a double major: Theatre and Individualized Studies in Theatre Management, and received my Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Saint Mary’s University in Minneapolis, MN. Regionally I’ve worked at Cortland Repertory Theatre, Glimmerglass Opera and the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. In May 2011 I received a text message from a former colleague who said Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in Auburn, NY was expanding and looking for someone with development experience. I remember that day clearly. I had a migraine, but I quickly emailed my resume and within minutes I was having a phone interview. I have found a temporary cure for migraines – adrenaline. A week later I was starting my new job with the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival.

My position has morphed since that first day and I’m thrilled with my current position as the Director of Audience Services. I oversee Box Office and Front of House operations as well as process and manage patron donations. There are times when my job is challenging and I have to take a deep breath. There are also times when I have a 15 minute conversation with a patron who is exchanging tickets and somehow we end up sharing gardening tips. This job has taught me to be kind to customer service people and to strive to always improve your experience. Chances are we’ve talked on the phone or passed by each other at one of the box office venues. Either way…thank you for everything you do for the Festival! You have helped make it possible for me to say I love my job and where I work.

Lisa Robillard – Audience Services Associate

I am a native of Auburn and have enjoyed the performing arts for as long as I can remember. I would have to say that my interest in theatre was sparked by the Youth Tour. I remember them coming to my class when I was in elementary school– I was hooked. Then when I was twelve years old I became involved with our school musical: Once Upon a Mattress. I finally experienced theatre as a participant and throughout high school I worked behind the scenes as a member of the crew. This is where I learned that crew dresses in black and should not be seen or heard – essentially we were the ninjas of the theater world.

After high school I pursued a degree in Theatre from SUNY Oneonta. During my first summer home from college I worked in the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse Box Office and continued to do so for two additional summers and spent one summer as a props intern. In 2007 I left Auburn to work with a touring company. For the next six years I traveled the country, but my heart was always in Auburn. In 2013 I stopped touring and returned to my seasonal position in the Box Office and in 2015 I accepted the position of Audience Services Associate. I’m so happy to be back home and working at a place I hold dear to my heart.

Michael Broughton – Facilities & Operations Manager

I came here from Kentucky in 2006 to be the Master Electrician at the Playhouse. When we launched the Festival, I started working full time to plan for and prepare the additional venues, in addition to overseeing the existing buildings. Because Merry-Go-Round and the Festival produce large-scale musical theatre and a very busy touring educational theatre, we’re saddled with a lot of “stuff”. We’re responsible for the upkeep of the Playhouse and the scene shops, including the large inventory of equipment and tools within. We rent a big space at Holy Family Church for our Costume Shop, a scene shop for the educational theatre, and of course the offices at Westminster. All together it’s about 40,000 square feet of space, and full of things that need maintenance and occasionally break! Additionally I keep up with our 12 vehicles, which travel about a combined 120,000 miles per year, and I help Jess and Tabitha with maintenance and repairs at our 2 apartment buildings.

I’ve always had a knack for figuring out how things work. When I was a little kid I’d sneak tools out of my dad’s tool chest and take apart his things. Maybe I got in trouble a few times, but I was learning. I started working for my extended family’s construction company in high school, and I did that until I got bitten by the theatre bug. 16 years later I’m working a job that allows me to draw from both skill sets. Now, I’ll take care of anything from a leaky pipe to a malfunctioning printer, to a heating system that doesn’t heat, to a vehicle that doesn’t want to go. My job is never boring, and no day is typical.

When I’m not fixing things, I’m improving our facilities. Currently I’m in the midst of a major project refinishing the concrete floor at the Playhouse, in addition to making a few aesthetic upgrades. Some past upgrades I’ve completed include replacing the stage floor at the Playhouse, and installing new flooring and mirrors in our loft rehearsal space.

Outside of work, I enjoy adventuring in the Adirondacks, finding old stuff to restore (this winter’s project is a camper, last winter’s was a boat), working on my house, and watching Kentucky basketball. Although I grew up down south, I’m proud to call Merry-Go-Round, the Festival, and Auburn, home.

Tiffany Howard – Costume Shop Manager/Costume Design, Youth Theatre

My mom used to tell a story of me at age 3 watching television, and when she asked me what I was doing I said, “I’m studying to be an actress.” Like many in the theatre world I started out on stage before finding my true love and passion offstage, in the costume shop. After graduating with my MFA in Acting/Directing, I taught college in Missouri for 5 years. At that time, 2008, one of my former students suggested me for the opening of Assistant Costume Shop Manager at MGR. In 2009 I moved to Auburn to work year round as the Costume Shop Manager, working on costumes for the summer season and the Youth Theatre season.

Costumes are such an important way to help tell the story the director wants to tell. Every garment or accessory that appears onstage does so because it was a thought out choice for THAT character to be wearing THAT item at THAT precise time in the show. In addition to finding/designing/building the right things for characters to be wearing, you also have to worry about period accuracy, composition of all costumes on stage in relation to each other and the set, and you must think about which items need to be changed quickly so you can plan accordingly.

Hopefully you can see that this is a large undertaking, and one that requires a team of people. During the Youth Theatre season I have an assistant, Stacy Brannan, who patterns and builds most of the garments we make. Throughout the season, we fit, alter and launder at least 63 costumes and 12 wigs.

Because our summer season is so large, the staff gets larger too. That summer staff consists of myself, an assistant shop manager, a cutter/draper (the person who patterns and cuts all of the pieces we will be building) and two stitchers. I also oversee the Wardrobe department that is made up of a wardrobe supervisor, a dresser and two production assistant wardrobe crew members. The job of the wardrobe crew is to make sure all actors look like we need them to; they plan and assist in all quick changes made, keep costumes laundered and in good shape, and they interact with the actors on a daily basis, solving problems. There is also the hair/makeup department. This consists of the designer and a wig assistant. The designer designs and styles all the wigs in the show (we typically wig all the women in a summer production) and the makeup. The wig assistant will “run” the shows—putting wigs on all the actors, maintaining the styles, and making sure all makeup is staying accurate to the designer’s vision.

The summer season is filled with tons of meetings and fittings. From the time the actors arrive to opening night we have two weeks. Depending on the size of the show, the shop will be responsible for anywhere from 12-200 costumes. We will have first fittings of the entire cast Thursday, Friday and Saturday—the first three days of rehearsal. Usually all fittings are finished by the following Friday (9 days after actor arrival; 8 work days). We then move into technical rehearsals where the tech elements are mixed in with the performance. Costumes are added either Monday evening or Tuesday morning, the show opens Wednesday… And then we do it all over again.

Jess Alvey – Company Manager/Residence Supervisor

Originally from St. Charles, Missouri, I began my professional theatre career in stage management at McLeod Summer Playhouse in Carbondale, Illinois in 2008. Wanting to expand my opportunities within the theatre management world, I began exploring the realm of company management, a path rarely discussed in my university’s theatre program. In 2009, I was hired by Merry-Go-Round Playhouse as the Company Management Production Assistant and found myself in sync with the role, rethinking my focus on stage management. After graduating from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in 2010 with a BFA in Performing Arts with emphasis in Technology and Design, I immediately returned to the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and moved into the role of Assistant Company Manager. When the Playhouse purchased two apartment buildings in 2011, I was hired full-time as the Residential Properties Supervisor to oversee the renovations, regular maintenance, and the general upkeep of the properties, as well as continuing my previous responsibilities as the full-time Assistant Company Manager.

Promoted to Company Manager in December 2013, I have witnessed great changes and growths in the FLMTF company management department. With the addition of shows to our regular season at the Playhouse, multiple performance venues and two residential properties, my team has worked hard raising the standards and improving the reputation of the FLMTF’s staff housing and general experience while maintaining personal connections to our ever-changing and expanding summer staff. It is truly amazing watching the organization grow and change with the family we have built at the Festival.

Tabitha McCullough – Assistant Company Manager

After growing up in Colorado and Kansas, I first came to Auburn, New York in the summer of 2011 to start my first professional theatre job with Merry-Go-Round Playhouse as the intern for the props department. Although the pace was fast and the hours were long, I fell in love with the people at the Playhouse and wanted to return. After graduating from McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas in 2012 with degrees in both theatre and elementary education, I found my way back to Auburn and joined the company management team in 2013 as the Second Assistant Company Manager.

In 2014, I was promoted to Assistant Company Manager and began working for the company management team year-round. Over the last two years, I have worked closely with Jess to make improvements to the company owned properties and assist in the planning and execution of the summer season. Each day is spent so differently, always challenging my skills to expand and learn a wide range of new things. Painting, gardening and guiding new arrivals through the various sites and festivals in the Finger Lakes are a few of my favorite aspects of my varied role in company management. I thoroughly enjoy having the ability to be creative in my work. During the 2016 summer, I will move temporarily to Rochester, New York to act as the on-site company management representative for the production of Austen’s Pride at Nazareth College. I am excited for the opportunity to take on the new responsibilities as the Festival continues to expand.